Top 10 Middleweights - 3 years ago vs today

J

jebrady03

White Belt
@White
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
101
Reaction score
0
I honestly don't put a ton of stock into rankings. I mean... who really cares? They don't affect anything in the real world. However, I did pull them up this week to just kind of blow my own mind and see Michael Bisping at the top of the MW ladder. Then I scrolled down all the way to 10 and didn't see Anderson Silva's name. That got me thinking... I wonder what the rankings looked like 3 years ago, vs today...

3 years ago:
1. ANDERSON SILVA (33-4)
2. CHAEL SONNEN (27-12-1)
3. CHRIS WEIDMAN (9-0)
4. VITOR BELFORT (22-10)
5. YUSHIN OKAMI (29-7)
6. MICHAEL BISPING (23-5)
7. MARK MUNOZ (12-3)
8. LUKE ROCKHOLD (10-1)
9. BRIAN STANN (12-6)
10. COSTAS PHILIPPOU (12-2, 1 NC)
*source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/4/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-50961

Today:
1. Michael Bisping (29-7)
2. Luke Rockhold (15-3)
3. Chris Weidman (13-1)
4. Yoel Romero (11-1)
5. Ronaldo Souza (23-4, 1 NC)
6. Lyoto Machida (22-7)
7. Derek Brunson (15-3)
8. Vitor Belfort (25-12)
9. David Branch (18-3)
10. Robert Whittaker (16-4)
*source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/4/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-106007

How crazy is that? Silva isn't in the top 10. Chael is just... gone. Weidman is still number 3, but with 4 more wins, a short title reign, and a loss. Vitor dropped 4 spots. Okami isn't even in the UFC anymore, nor in the top 10. Munoz is out of the picture. Rockhold has 5 more wins, 2 more losses, and a (lost) title under his belt. Brian Stann has completely moved on and is, IMO, one of the best commentators the sport has. And Costas Philippou retired too.
New entrants are Yoel Romero, Ronaldo Souza, former LHW Lyoto Machida, Derek Brunson, David Branch, and Robert Whittaker. The first 3 of these aren't really a surprise but the last 3... who saw those guys coming 3 years ago? They weren't even on the "other contenders" list.

It's nuts how much 3 years can change the landscape of this sport. Still mindblown over Silva not being in the top 10 today, and not even in the "other contenders" list. Not saying it's wrong, just mindblown.
 
Slightly off topic but why is Derek Brunson above Vitor?
 
Id probably be similar if you did it for all divisions

3 years is a long time in the fight game

Was Connor McGregor, Stipe or RDA even top 10 in their divisons

Had Lawler gotten his first return UFC WW win yet?

LHW was missing Rumble, Gus, OSP and in their place were Rampage, Thiago Silva, Machida, Matt Hamill

Barao, Aldo and GSP were untouchable in their division

And RR was supposed to retire undefeated
 
jebrady03 said:
I honestly don't put a ton of stock into rankings. I mean... who really cares? They don't affect anything in the real world. However, I did pull them up this week to just kind of blow my own mind and see Michael Bisping at the top of the MW ladder. Then I scrolled down all the way to 10 and didn't see Anderson Silva's name. That got me thinking... I wonder what the rankings looked like 3 years ago, vs today...

3 years ago:
1. ANDERSON SILVA (33-4)
2. CHAEL SONNEN (27-12-1)
3. CHRIS WEIDMAN (9-0)
4. VITOR BELFORT (22-10)
5. YUSHIN OKAMI (29-7)
6. MICHAEL BISPING (23-5)
7. MARK MUNOZ (12-3)
8. LUKE ROCKHOLD (10-1)
9. BRIAN STANN (12-6)
10. COSTAS PHILIPPOU (12-2, 1 NC)
*source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/4/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-50961

Today:
1. Michael Bisping (29-7)
2. Luke Rockhold (15-3)
3. Chris Weidman (13-1)
4. Yoel Romero (11-1)
5. Ronaldo Souza (23-4, 1 NC)
6. Lyoto Machida (22-7)
7. Derek Brunson (15-3)
8. Vitor Belfort (25-12)
9. David Branch (18-3)
10. Robert Whittaker (16-4)
*source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/4/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-106007

How crazy is that? Silva isn't in the top 10. Chael is just... gone. Weidman is still number 3, but with 4 more wins, a short title reign, and a loss. Vitor dropped 4 spots. Okami isn't even in the UFC anymore, nor in the top 10. Munoz is out of the picture. Rockhold has 5 more wins, 2 more losses, and a (lost) title under his belt. Brian Stann has completely moved on and is, IMO, one of the best commentators the sport has. And Costas Philippou retired too.
New entrants are Yoel Romero, Ronaldo Souza, former LHW Lyoto Machida, Derek Brunson, David Branch, and Robert Whittaker. The first 3 of these aren't really a surprise but the last 3... who saw those guys coming 3 years ago? They weren't even on the "other contenders" list.

It's nuts how much 3 years can change the landscape of this sport. Still mindblown over Silva not being in the top 10 today, and not even in the "other contenders" list. Not saying it's wrong, just mindblown.
Click to expand...

This time is enough for someone to get at his best, and also get old and out of it. Fighting is something else.
 
Looks every bit as good, probably even better, than today's "new breed" division.
 
Its not really all that surprising imo,

I mean SIlva and Chael were not going to rule forever, they aged out basically,

Kind of amazing we still have Michael and Vitor, yeah its a big change, but is normal
 
Silva`s lay off must be why he is not on the list. He is on a slide that is certainly unimpressive but the losses are to the #1 and 3 guys.
 
Chael vs Weidman in 2013 would have been cool. Sucks he gave up on MW.
 
MW is the deepest ever right now.

Franklin had the equivalent of women's 145 division.

Silva had a pretty easy division too, barring Chael and Hendo.

When Weidman took over, and the strikeforce guys established themselves, MW became one of the best divisions in the UFC. Hoping to see Bisping defend the belt a couple of times, but I doubt it.
 
The myth that the division is so much better today has been obliterated by Michael Bisping. He was a gatekeeper during Anderson's run. The division today is filled with legends passed their primes, guys nearing 40, or 2 decent "young" guys in Chris and Luke.

Nothing special about this division.
 
Whittaker knocks out bisping if he ever got the chance
 
Yep, Bisping beat the best MW three years ago, and the best MW today, speaks to the legend that is Bisping. GOAT?;)
 
Today's MW's are weaker than the previous generation. Just younger.
 
BwawPYs.gif
 
Vitor is the old lion that has been battling with young lions in the jungle for several years. He's been in the top 10 forever
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,254,384
Messages
56,643,057
Members
175,325
Latest member
backyardboxingfan12

Share this page

Back
Top